How To Drill a Spare Ball in 2024
Bowling is a very popular sport, and like all sports, you want to play your best. To do this, you need the right equipment and practice. But what if something goes wrong with your spare bowling ball?
How can you fix it so that it will work properly again? Today, we will explore how to drill a spare ball so that it will work properly for you when needed as a backup ball.
Before we dive into the steps, let me tell you something first.
If you are using a plastic ball as your spare, try Freshour layout as it happens to be ideal for the plastic ball.
The Freshour layout can really help to reduce the ball reaction and hook potential in both urethane and plastic balls. If you keep practicing with a plastic ball on your throw, single pins will be a piece of cake for you as they will go straight.
Table of Contents
How To Drill a Spare Bowling Ball: Step by Step
Step 1: Find the center of the ball using a quarter scale. The process can be done by measuring from either side of the ball down to the middle and subtracting those numbers from each other. When adding them together, they should equal 90. If they do not, adjust your measurement on the bad side to equal 90, and you can move on to step 2.
Step 2: Note the high-density puck in your spare ball and note how it is 180* from the pin and CG (center of gravity). If you are using an electronic drill, make sure it’s saved to this setting before moving on. However, you can also apply a conventional drill for your conventional grip.
The standard spare ball layout for the straightest shot is 1/2 oz, negative side on the label. Drill the ball with the pin 6 3/4″ from the PAP and put a balance hole on the negative axis point to make side weight legal. That will actually make the ball go straighter than ever, and additionally, you can polish the ball to shine more. It will guarantee less ball motion, less ball reaction, and a straighter shot.
Step 3: Drill into the hole so that the pin ends up being centered on your high-density puck. The drill does not have to go through the ball; it just has to be close enough so that the drill will not come out the other side when you are finished. If you are using a handheld drill, measure how deep it is drilling into the ball before stopping.
This will be the depth of your hole.
Step 4: Using a sharpie, mark where the drill stopped on the surface of the ball. Continue drilling until you are no longer able to see your initial mark. This should leave you with a guide showing you how deep you drilled into the ball so that it is possible for other people to do this process and you can use it in the future.
If you followed these steps, then congratulations, your spare bowling ball is now ready to be used when needed!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is a spare ball, and what does it do for you?
A spare ball is a bowling ball that you use if one of your best bowling balls break.
The spare ball will not be used to bowl the final game like the primary ball is, but it will help you have a chance at getting more points, depending on how many pins are left standing.
The spare ball will either have no finger holes, or there may be fingerholes drilled into it so that you can hold onto it while bowling.
This can depend on what type of ball you are using or what finger size you have. If there are finger holes in the spare ball, they must be permanently attached so that they do not come out when being knocked over.
Why should I drill my spare bowling ball?
If you are interested in becoming better at the sport of bowling, you must take time to learn about all of the available equipment. One piece of equipment that may be used when bowling is the spare ball.
If your strike ball breaks during a game or if they simply become unusable, your spare ball can help bring back some functionality to your game.
One way to ensure that your spare bowling ball is ready when needed is to drill it so that it will surmount any unfitting pins.
When should I use my spare bowling ball?
A spare ball is only used if one of your other bowling balls breaks. It is not used to bowl the final game, but it can help you get more points depending on how many pins are left standing.
The spare ball will either have no fingerholes, or there may be fingerholes drilled into it so that you can hold on to it while bowling.
There are different spare balls, and they will depend on what type of ball you are using and what size your fingers are. If there are finger holes drilled in the spare ball, then they must be permanently attached.
Common reasons why people's spare bowling balls might not be working well enough
There are a few reasons why someone might not use their spare bowling ball:
- The first may be that the ball is too hard and doesn’t have enough weight to affect any pins.
- If the holes are too large for your fingers, those might cause them to fall out.
Conclusion: How to drill a spare ball
A spare ball is one of the most important tools in a bowler’s arsenal. Believe it or not, the way you drill a spare ball can make or break your game.
To make sure you’re always prepared, it’s essential to keep a spare bowling ball on hand.
If your main strike ball starts acting up for some reason or another and proves challenging to get back into shape, the spare one will be there waiting in case of an emergency.
It can also come in handy if you want to try out new shots that may not work with your primary choice.